Bridle-bit.



w. E. PHILLIPS.

BHIDLE B|T.;

APPLICATION ms!) SEPT-.21. I91 1.

"1,281,203; Patented 001;. s, 1918.

Inventor flap/25m I Attorneys WILLIS E. PHILLIPS, 0F COLLBRAN, COLORADO.

BRIDLE-BIT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 8, 1918.

Application filed September 21, 1917. Serial No. 192,548.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIS E. PHILLIPS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Collbran, in the county of Mesa and State of Colorado, have invented a new and useful Bridle-Bit, of which the following is a specification.

The device forming the subject matter of this application is a bit, and the invention aims to provide a bit which, under normal rein tension, will be comfortable to the horse, and present no abrasive parts rearwardly, the construction being such that, under an abnormal rein tension, a sharp edge on the mouth bar of the bit may be rearwardly disposed.

The invention aims to provide a novel spring means whereby the operations above mentioned may be carried out.

With the above and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed can be made within the scope of what is claimed, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 shows in end elevation, a bit constructed in accordance with the present invention, the same being in the condition which it will assume when the reins hang or when there is, a normal tension on the reins;

Fig. 2 is a similar view but. showin the position of the bit when there is an abnormal tension on the reins;

Fig. 3 shows the bit in side elevation, parts being broken away; I

Fig. 4: is a cross section on the line 1-4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a cross section on the line 5-5 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view showing the mouth bar; and

Fig. 7 is a fragmental elevation showing a slight modification in the invention.

In carrying out the present invention there is provided a mouth bar 1 preferably but not necessarily of metal. The mouth bar 1 is of approximately the same crosssection from end to end, meaning thereby that the mouth bar is devoid of pronounced radial projections of considerable length,

adapted to engage the roof of the mouth after the manner of well-known curb-bit constructions. The bar 1 includes an intermediate or body portion 2 which is seed shaped incross section and is provided with a sharp lower edge 3, the edge 3, however, not being sharpened suificiently so that it will out. In order to facilitate the description of the operation ofthe structure, one side face of the body 2 of the mouth bar has been designated by the reference character 1. The ends 5 of the mouth bar 1 are of circular cross section, as shown in Fig. 4, so that the lips of the animal may not be chafed or injured. The ends 5 of the mouth bar 1 terminate in rectangularly disposed arms 6 which, under normal rein tension, extend downwardly and forwardly. In the arms 6, upper or rear openings 7 are formed, the arms being equipped with lower or forward openings 8.

The invention comprises a pair of side springs, each preferably made out of a sin gle strip of metal, bent upon itself to form upper eyes 9, adapted to receive the side straps of the head stall (not shown). The strips out of whichthe springs are made are crossed upon themselves as shown at 10, below the eyes 9, and are bowed rearwardly and forwardly to form curved fingers 11 and 12. The fingers 11 terminate in loops 14 engaged pivotally in the lower forward openings 8 of the arms 6, the fingers 12 terminating in loops 15 engaged pivotally in the openings 7. The reins 16 are assembled with the fingers 12.

The fingers 11 and 12 tend to expand, and, under normal rein tension, the mouth bar 1 is carried rearwardly, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3, until it bears. upon the lower ends of the fingers 12 which thus act as stops for the mouth bar. Under such circumstances, the edge 3, of the mouth bar 1 is downwardly presented, as shown in Figs. 3 and 5, and does not coact with the rear edge of the mouth of the animal. Under the circumstances above mentioned, the side 4: of the mouth bar is presented rearwardly, and the bit is quite as comfortable as one of circular cross section. The spring embodying the arms 11 and 12 is strong enough so that the arms 11 and 12 will not yield under any ordinary tension brought on the reins 16. Under an abnormal tension on the reins 16, however, the mouth bar 1 is swung forwardly from the position of Fig. 1 to the position of Fig. 2, the pressure of the mouth of the animal being against the rear edge or face of the mouth bar, in the direction of the arrow A in Fig. 2. The mouth bar 1 thus is rotated on an axis until the lower edge 3 of the mouth bar is presented rearwardly, the mouth bar 1 rotating on its axis, through an arc of approximately 90 degrees. When the mouth bar 1 is in the position shown in Fig. 2, the ends 5 of the mouth bar coast with the fingers 11, and the fingers thus form stops for the mouth bar.

So soon as the abnormal tension on the reins 16 is reduced, the arms 11 and 12 tend to expand, and thus the mouth bar is swung into the position shown in Fig. 1, so that the edge 3 of the mouth bar is no longer rearwardly presented,

By properly bending the side springs, the mouth bar may be caused to move from the position shown in Fig. 1 to the position shown in Fig. 2 either gradually or suddenl A l 1O1S6 cannot endure the relatively sharp edge 3, and will give back when the edge 3 is'presented as described, thus allowing the bit to resume a normal position. The pain inflicted is of momentary duration and the bit is not cruel in operation. The fact that the bit is humane, is, however, not the factor that subdues viciousness or fright, but, rather, that the bit operates like a living, jumping thing in the mouth, snapping with the suddenness of a steel-trap when the animal attempts tobolt, and attracting the attention of the animal from its fright or viciousness, shock and surprise being relied upon, rather than the results of .pro-

longed pain and torture.

It is not necessary that the spring be crossed upon itself as shown at 10. Thus, as shown in Fig. 7, the eye which receives the side strap is denoted by the numeral 17, the rear finger of the spring being denoted by the numeral 18 and the forward finger being denoted by the numeral 19, it being observed, as shown at 20, that the arms 18 and 19 are not crossed upon themselves, as shown at 10 in Fig. 1.

'Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is 1. A bit comprisin a mouth bar having an edgeand provide at its ends with an- Copies of this patent may be obtained for gular arms; and a rein-receiving spring comprlsing expanslble forward and rear fingers pivotally connected with the arms at different distances from the mouth bar, the fingers coacting with the arms to dispose the edge of the mouth bar away from the rear edge of the mouth under normal rein tension, but being operable under abnormal rein tension to present the edge of the mouth bar to the rear edge of the mouth.

2. A bit comprising a mouth bar having an edge and provided at its ends with angular arms; and a rein-receiving spring comprising expansible forward and rear fingers pivotally connected with the arms at different, distances from the mouth bar, the fingers coacting with the arms to dispose the edge of the mouth bar away from the rear edge of the mouth under normal rein tension, but being operable under abnormal rein tension to present the edge of the mouth bar to the rear edge of the mouth, the rear and forward fingers, respectively, lying in the path of the mouth bar, to act as stops therefor under normal and abnormal rein tension.

3. A bit comprising a mouth bar embodying a comfortable part, and a relatively uncomfortable part, each of suflicient length to extend across the mouth of the animal to be driven, the bar being of approximately the same cross section from end to end, thereby to prevent any portion of the mouth bar from engaging the roof of the mouth of the animal when the bar is rotated, the bar being provided at its ends with angularly disposed arms; and spring means assembled with the arms for causing the bar to oscillate in an arc and to rotate axially under varying rein tension, thereby to present the uncomfortable part of the bar to the lower jaw under normal rein tension, and to pre sent the uncomfortable part of the bar to the lower jaw under increased rein tension.

In testimony that I'claim the foregoing as my own, I have heretoafiixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

. WILLIS E. PHILLIPS. Witnesses:

SARAH L. PHILLIPS,

Rosoon L. BLoss.

five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents 7 Washington, D. G.- a 

